Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-01-13
FORTUNES OF A NIGHT.

scNo. Is West streetr shouted to the
driver as dashed into the carriage and
threw my handbag into one corner and
myself into the other. We rattlad off
over the pavement. / was wild with i'm
patience, as the carriage crept along at
what seemed to me snail's pace. The
ball would surely have begun, and Emily's
card would be full, and my wretchedness
complete. TO think of whirling to deli
cious music with her in my arms, of the
opportunities for confidential little talks
in the intervals of the dance-and then,
after coming so far and undergoing such
troubles, to have the fulfllment of these
dreams shattered! 1 knocked on the
window to the driver, and moment
afterWard thrust nsy head out and prom
ised him good big fee if he would only
hurry. At last we turned into side
street and stopped. My friend Jack Hin
ton ran down the steps to meet me.
81 thought you'd given up coming al
together. Where have you been all this
timer"
But I had no time then for expIana-
tions hurriedIy grabbed my handbag,
showed some money into the drivers
hand, and we flew up the stairs together
to nv friends room. AS [ ran through
my pockets for the key to my valise,
told of the misfortune that had detained
me; and how my whole future happiness
depended on the outcome of this night;
/ could not live without her that
knew.
-'What in heavens name have you
here?" broke in Jack who had opened my
bag while [ was struggling with my neck
tie. I had put my pants into the Valise,
but wore my dress coat to save it from
wrinkling. glanced into the bag, and
saw, to my bewilderment, instead of my
trousers, powder box, a corset, and a
mass of other articles Of femme wearing
apparel.
ssHai ha! hal" roared Jack, and he lay
back in his easy chair, and laughed till
the tears ran down his cheeks-I could
have choked him-'ha! ha! ha!-this is
rich"
t'There" I cried, as I turned the thing
upside down and then threw it with all
my might into the corner; Gle there and
rot! I'm in fine fix. Can't go to the
ball in these light pants and heavy shoes.
Emily is looking for me even now, prob
ably?n
''But how did this happen?" asked Jack
shaking with laughter; 81 don't under
it's
Understand! understand" roared, as
walked up and down the room wild with
anger and Impotence. II understand it
perfectly. At the last station, when it
was getting pretty dark-fOr some reason
the lamps weren't lighted at ala lady
got on, sat down just in front of me where
L had put my bag, when an acquaintance
came and took the seat beside me. I
didn't notice that she had valise, \bnt 1
suppose she had, and / must have snatch
ed it in a hurry. But for the love of
Moses, Jack what shall do? Where can
I get pair of black pants? If I wait
another minute Emily won't have dance
left, and I'll have to drag that old fat
aunt of hers around!"
'EDon't fret yourself any more, my dear
boy" said Jack, reassuringly, II can prob
ably fit you out all right"
While he was out I examined the con-
tents of the handbag more closely-cos
metics, powder, a couple of switches Of
false hair, pair of corsets, some pad
ding, old gloves and stockings.
itBahp' said to myself; sis there a
man in the world fool enough to let him
self be taken In by such means? am on
ly 81, but I know that L"
Jack came running in with a pair of
pants over his arm and interrupted my
reyerie. They fitted me capitally-a lit
tie narrow, but perfectly satisfactory. I
took hasty glance at the glass.
And twenty minutes later we entered
bic ball room together.
slack" said in a low voice, as we
went in, "this night will do for me. |
feel it. There is an evil fate following
me-al this trouble is in vain. Three
dances are over and Emily is lost to me
forever"
''My dear Harry" he returned; ''you
know I've often told you that Emily is too
old for you, and"
$50 to the devilr' I cried. ''Do you
want to drive me mad?"
''Very we'll; il you will not hear, go
your way. There comes her younger
brother, and you can find out from him
where the divine Emily is"
1 turned toward the direction indicated,
and what was my delight when I heard
from her brother that she had been I'M
avoidably detained, and was expected
every moment. watched the door IN
ceasingly, and when she herself, led by
her brother, came up to me my happl-
ness was complete. I forgot the trouble
some journey, the handbag, my dis
appointment and all.
An hour past in a whirl of delightful
enjoyment. We danced, we talked; the
busting crowd was nothing to me; I only
looked into her eyes and saw there my
paradise. Emily had never been SO
friendly toward me. Arm in arm we
prominaaed between dances, and her
rosy lips whispered the sweetest worde
into my ear. We finally sat down in a
somewhat retired SPOT. Emily made
some excuses for looking so pale.
Good heavens! had cot noticed it be-
fore, but she did look changed a little
what had had happened to her?
C"My dear friend" she whispered in
reply to my anxious iquiries, at was
nothing of Importance, and yet some
thing that almost compelled me to fore
go the pleasure of the dance tonight"
Ny blood grew cold and my heart stop
ped beating at the thoughts of such
possibility,
s'But how was that possible? Your
cheeks are very white"
sit was nothing at all in reality. l had
just been away on visit of several days